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Sonoita Creek committee reviews town water readings, watershed planning updates and county flood-control scope
Summary
At its May 14 meeting in Patagonia, the Sonoita Creek Flood and Flow Study Committee reviewed town well static-level and daily-use figures, heard a federal watershed planning update and discussed county flood-control design alternatives; the committee approved minutes and adjourned. No formal policy or funding votes were taken.
The Sonoita Creek Flood and Flow Study Committee met May 14, 2026, in Patagonia to review recent monitoring data, hear planning updates on a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation watershed effort and discuss a county flood-control scope of work. The committee approved its March 12 minutes and adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
Town Manager Tomas Goode presented the town's recent water figures, reporting town usage of 117,873 gallons per day, processed volume of 38,052 gallons per day and a static water level of 35.10 feet, with no recorded rainfall during the reporting period. Goode also flagged a potential water discharge issue connected to the South32/Hermosa site and supplied South32 treatment-plant figures for March 2026 (WTP2 average 1.29337 million gallons per day, maximum 1.85904 million gallons per day).
The agenda listed a Harshaw Creek water-quality presentation from Chris Gardner, and committee materials included Gardner's slides for that item. The meeting record indicates Gardner prepared graphs to illustrate Harshaw Creek conditions, though the minutes do not record a separate, detailed presentation transcript beyond the agenda notation.
Howard Buchanan provided an update on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) for the Sonoita Creek watershed. Buchanan said a steering committee is being formed, a request for proposals for facilitators is expected by midsummer, and a stakeholder meeting is planned for this summer. He noted planned coordination with an Arizona State University groundwater workshop and ongoing work by The Nature Conservancy and Santa Cruz County.
Committee member Alan reported on the County Flood Plain Management Study Phase 2 and a new scope presented May 6, 2026. He said the Patagonia Regional Flood Control project funding resulted from a Benefits & Protections Agreement and that the scope includes alternatives for Harshaw Creek structures—Zuni bowls, check dams and gabions—along with town strategies to reduce flood-prone areas via right-of-way and open-space adjustments. Alan said hydrology modeling will identify which alternatives reduce flow and flooding, and that the package is being forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
Under member updates, Ashley reported that a drought plan was completed. The committee also recorded county support to repair the School Canyon project and noted that South32 will make minor repairs on its property; these items were placed on the committee action plan for follow-up.
Votes at a glance - Approval of March 12, 2026 minutes: Motion to approve by Ron; seconded by Kate; motion carried (tally not specified in the record). - Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Ron; seconded by Kate; carried at 10:28 a.m. (tally not specified).
The committee set its next regular monthly meeting for June 18, 2026. Several agenda items identified for follow-up included the Harshaw Creek water-quality slides, steering-committee formation for the USBR CWMP and public-input mapping tied to the county flood plain study.
